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Paper Talk: Man Utd eye £70m defensive duo; new Sturridge link

Date published: Wednesday 23rd November 2016 8:12

There’s a surprise new suitor for out-of-favour Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge, while Manchester United have been linked with two defenders, rated at £40m and £30m apiece, according to Wednesday’s papers.

SOUTHAMPTON EMERGE AS SHOCK STURRIDGE SUITORS

Southampton want to take Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge on loan in January with a view to a possible £25m summer move, according to surprising reports on Wednesday.

UNITED TARGET £70M DEFENSIVE DUO

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho wants to sign two defensive players in the January transfer window – with Southampton centre-back Virgil van Dijk, 25, and versatile Bayern Munich defender David Alaba, 24 the men in his sights.

Mourinho wants assurances from United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward that significant funds are available to go for the players he has targeted.

And the top of that list is Austria defender Alaba, who can play across the defence and can also slot in at the base of midfield.

Alaba is also wanted by Man City boss Pep Guardiola, who managed him while at Bayern.

But the Daily Mirror claims Mourinho had Austria international Alaba watched twice by United scouts during the international break, with a view to making a January bid for the versatile 24-year-old.

Alaba plays as a left-back for Bayern, which has been a problem position for United this season, but can also operate in midfield.

Bayern are likely to rebuff any attempts to prise Alaba away from them in January, with Arsenal also said to be keeping tabs on the player who looks set to spark a huge bidding war.

United chief Woodward backed Mourinho to the tune of £150million in the summer, bringing in world record £89million signing Paul Pogba from Juventus, defender Eric Bailly from Villarreal, Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Borussia Dortmund and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Mourinho wants the same backing again in January, believing he needs to add two defenders of stature if United are to make the top-four and stand any chance of an unlikely title push.

The brother and agent of Swansea striker Fernando Llorente says Bob Bradley’s appointment as manager was “fatal” for the 31-year-old Spaniard (Daily Star)

Marc Muniesa is prepared to leave Stoke City in January – on loan or permanently – in search of regular first-team football. The central defender, 24, has not started a league game this season (Stoke Sentinel)